Prevent Allergies With Indoor Plants – A Guide to Breathing Easy

indoor houseplants

Sure this isn’t about “HealthFood”, but we thought it equally important. Maybe you don’t know this, but there are actually indoor plants that can be beneficial to your health. Most people think of houseplants as just green plants they can water occasionally. However, they don’t know that those nice-looking green leaves can boost their mental, physical and spiritual health. You can even prevent allergies with indoor plants.

These anti-allergy plants, when grown inside, can help purify the air from harmful toxins and chemicals, which consequently help to prevent allergies, especially in children.

According to the NASA Clean Air Study of 1989, certain indoor houseplants can be a way to naturally filter off most common toxins like tetrachloroethylene, benzene, formaldehyde, etc. from the air in our homes.

Now you’ve realized that growing plants inside your home can be a good thing, the next question is, “what type of house plants work best for preventing allergies?”

Below, we’ve listed some of these indoor plants, as recommended by NASA.

1. Dracaena Houseplant:

There are several varieties of this indoor plant. However, they all do the same thing – grab allergies in the air and hold onto them in their leaves. The plant basically absorbs carbon monoxide in the air.

2. Ficus Benjamina:

This houseplant is also known as weeping fig. It does a good job of purifying airborne pollutants like xylene, formaldehyde and toluene.

3. Heartleaf Philodendron:

Scrubs a significant amount of airborne harmful gases during photosynthesis. This helps to improve the quality of air indoors, which is ideal for people with allergies.

4. Peace Lilies:

Rids the air of trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde. It also effectively removes mold spores from the air.

5. Chinese Evergreen:

This houseplant is another amazing natural air purifier. It requires minimal maintenance and grows best in low light.

6. Spider Plant:

The long leaves of this houseplant are what makes it a great option for preventing indoor allergens. It absorbs harmful molds and other irritants from the air.

7. Golden Pothos:

One of the top-listed houseplants by NASA for controlling formaldehyde indoors.

8. Bamboo Palm:

Effectively clears carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, xylene and chloroform from the atmosphere. It has also been reported to have insect-repellent properties.

9. Snake Plant:

Reduces ozone concentration in closed rooms. It also converts carbon dioxide to oxygen at night. 

10. English Ivy:

This houseplant clears the air of irritants and reduces mold spores in the air, thereby improving most allergy symptoms.  

Improving Allergies With Indoor Plants

indoor plants

You don’t necessarily need to have all the different types of plants in your home. NASA recommends 15 to 18 indoor plants for every 1800 square foot house, in order to improve the air quality. They should be planted in 6- to 8-inch diameter containers.

So, you can choose to have four Peace lilies, five English ivy plants, three philodendrons, etc. The effectiveness of the air purification will depend on the foliage of the plants. The more the foliage, the better it improves allergy symptoms. 

Also, don’t forget to always maintain the plants and keep them healthy to prevent allergies with indoor plants.